Feeler mechanism for looms



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FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, I920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

2 susns-suzn 1 Invezr vr 21% W I. SNOW.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3!.1-920.

Patented Aug. 9,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r. w Q 8 mm H w UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

OF HOPEDALE'MASSAQHUSETTS, A CORPORATION .OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR Looms;

Application. filed July 31,

To all whom it may concern:.

Be it known that I, ISAAC Snow, acltizen of the United States, and a resident of. Lawrence,- county of Essex, and State of exhaustion of filling.

In this general type of feeler mechanisms it is desirable that the feeler partake of its side swipe or movement longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling reaches a predetermined degree of exhaustion. 'It may happen at times that the feeler will not promptly respond to the forces tending to move it longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, and one of the important features of the present invention consists in a feeler and a feeler displacer which acts upon the feeler and tends to move it longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat.

While the feeler mechanism of the present invention is herein shown as comprising a. feeler which is supported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof, on a detecting beat, itis to be understood that the invention is not restricted to this particular type of feeler, but that the feeler displacer may be associated with any type of side swipe feelerto assist in or insure its movement longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

The feeler of the presentinvention is provided with a toothed or roughened end which engagesa surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat, and movement of the feeler longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin in the shuttle is prevented by engagement of the teeth with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion of filling. When substantial exhaustion occurs, however, and a new supply of filling is required, the feeler should respond quickly.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1920. Serial No. 400,451.

Acfurther feature of the present invention, therefore, consists n a feeler provided with a, toothed engaging end and'a feeler, dis

ISAAC snow, or LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO DRAPER coRronArIoiv,

ratenteaaii e, 1921.

placer which has an end whichis movable along the surface engaged by it on each detecting beat, but is held from such movement by thefeeler which is "held by'the filling until substantial exhaustion.

The above features of the invention and other novel elements and combinations of parts will-be hereinafter described in connectlon with the accompanying drawings which show one good, practical form of the invention, but it is to be understoodthatf the invention is'not restricted-to the detailsv shownwhich, of course, may be varied with- .in the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a feeler side of a loom, showing'more particularly the invention as defined by the feeler mechanism and its associated parts;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached plan view" showing the action of the feeler mechanism when a working supply of filling is present in theshuttle 'ona detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that ofFig. 2 showing the action of the feelermechanism when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat;

Fig. 4-. is a detacheddetailshowing the actuator or slide through which the longitudinal movement of the feeler along the filling carrier or bobbin is made effective for replenishing filling.

acter. Connected to the loom frame are the or rock shaft 3. Rising from the rock shaft the arm 4: to which is pivoted at 5 the latch 6. The latch 6 has a rear engaging end portion 7 adapted to be engaged at ti'mesby an operating member 8 which may conven- ,90 The loom frame l may be ofusua'l charl iently be formed as-part of or be connected to the cam follower. The engaging'end 7 0f the latch is under control of the feeler mechanismso that when the feeler is moved longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin on a detecting beat, the end 7; ofithe latch 6 will be placed in the path of movement of the operating member and effect,

replenishment of filling in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. In the present instance of the invention the rear engaging end 7 of the latch is pivotally mounted at 9 and has a finger 10 which overlies the arm 11 of a bell crank pivoted at 12 to a support 13 which may be conven-j iently carried by the loom frame and which, in the present instance, is connected by a bolt 14 to a supporting lug 15. The other arm 16 of the bell crank lever is connected to a transmitter 17, the construction being such that when the transmitter 17 is appropriately moved, in the present instance to.-

the right, Fig. 1, the bell crank lever will position the end 7 of the latch and the operating member 8 relatively for engagement as the operating member moves frontwardly.

' be appropriately adjusted, as usual, on its support. 7

The feeler is mounted upon the feeler stand and so also is the feeler displacer, and inthepresent instance the feeler stand is provided with a front bearing portion and a rear bearing portion through which the feeler and feeler displacer extend. The front bearing portion may comprise the two brackets 25 and 26 which preferably overlap each other, as indicated in Fig. 1, and each of the brackets is provided with a slot 27 through which passes a securing bolt 28. Each of the brackets is provided with an upstanding lug which forms a bearing for the front end portion of the feeler and feeler displacer, respectively; In the present instance, the bracket 26 has the lug 29 which is provided with an opening through which extends the stem 30 of the feeler 31. Similarly, the bracket 25 is pro vided with the up-standing lug 32 through which extends the stem 33 of the feeler displacer 34.

The rear portion of the feeler stand 22 has rising therefrom a flange 35 which has a slot 36 and which may be conveniently formed as part of a plate 37 secured by suitable bolts or pins 38 to the feeler stand.

The feeler 31 and the feeler displacer 34 extend through the slot 36 of the rear bearing or upstanding flange '35 and interposed between a shoulder 39 formed on the feeler and the Lip-standing flange 29 is a spring 40 which normally acts to force the feeler into its rearward feeling position. A stop, such as the pin 41, for instance, limits the rear- .ward movement of the feeler.. Similarly,

the feeler displacer 34 is provided with a shoulder 42 between which and the up standing flange 32 is interposed a spring 2 43 normally tending to force the feeler displacer into its rearward position. The dc tailsjust described form a convenient construction for mounting the feeler and feeler displacer, but the invention is not restricted placer may be normally under the influence of yielding means for holding them in their rearward position;

,thereto because the essentials in these rei 'spects are that the feeler and f'eelerrdis- Mounted at the rear part of the feeler stand is a slide or actuator 44 through which the feeler and, it maybe, the feeler displacer, extend. The slide or actuator 44 may be variously formed, but in the present instance it comprises a base portion 45 having a slot 46 which may embrace the rear bearing 35 and in connection therewith act as guiding means for the actuator or slide as it is moved. The up-standing flange or plate 47 of the actuator or slide 44 is likewise provided with a slot 48 through which extend the feeler 31 and the feeler displacer 34. The actuator or slide 44 is connected to the transmitter 17 at 49, so that sliding movement of the slide or actuator 44 in a direction transversely of the loom, will appropriately operate the transmitter to effect replenishment of filling through a train of mechanism, or other suitable means, such as hereinbefore described.

In the present instance of the invention the feeler is shown as of the inclined type, that is, it is supported or mounted to enter the shuttle on a detecting beat me direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle or the path of lay movement. The feeler displacer 34 is likewise shown, in the present instance of the invention, as supported in a position inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle or path of lay movement, and preferably at a somewhat'greater angle of inclination than is the feeler. The slot 48 in the slide or actuator 44 is of appropriate length to permit the feeler and feeler displacer to be moved frontwardly on a detecting beat While the end of the feeler is held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the filling, without causing movement of the slide or actuator 44.- When, however, the feeler is moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle or along the filling carrier or bobbin, on a detecting beat, such movement of the feeler causes the slide or actuator 44 to be moved and, through the train of mechanism described, effect replenishment of filling.

The lay 50 is provided with the shuttle box 51 into which is received the shuttle 52 provided with the filling" carrier or bobbin 53 on which the filling is wound. The front wall ofthe shuttle box is provided with an o enin 54 as'usual in this class of looms,

and similarly the adjacent or front wall' of the shuttle is provided with an opening 55 which registers with the opening 54 when" the. shuttle is in the detectingbox, so that the feeler may enter and feel for the filling;

The .rear end of the feeler 31 is roughened or provided with a series of teeth 56 which rection longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat. however, that the surface of 'the'bobbin may be in such condition that the feeler will not readily move longitudinally of the shuttle and along the surface of the filling carrler.

If it does not, a mis-pick orpartial pick may occurand imperfect cloth be woven. The feeler displacer, therefore, is so constructed and arranged as to bear against the feeler on a detecting beat and exert a force thereupon tending to move the feeler longi-- tudinally of the shuttle. This tendency of the feeler displacer to move the feeler lon gitudina'lly of the shuttle is overcome by the holding action of the toothed end of the feeler and its engagement with the filling when a working supply is present on a detecting beat, but when thefilling is substantially exhausted,- the tendency of the displacer tomove the feeler longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin is rendered effective even though the end of the feeler may be obstructed in its movement by the character of the surface engaged by it. The feeler displacer, in the present instance of the invention, has an end portion which is untoothed so that under the frontward pressure of a surface upon the end of the displacer on each detecting beat, the tendency of the displacer is to move longitu'dinally ofthe shuttle and exert a lateral force upon the feel'erl-j The engaging end of the feeler displacer'may be otherwise formed, the construction should be such,

however, that under the frontward'pressure exerted upon the feeler displacer ona detecting beat, the feeler displacer may not be obstructed in its tendency to move longitudinallyof the filling carrier or bobbin and to exert a displacing force upon the feeler.

To insure that the teeth of the feeler may It may happen at times,

means for replenishing the engage the surface within the shuttle before the end of the feeler displacer engages such surface, it is preferable to extend the feeler rearward slightly beyond the end of the feeler displacer, "as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. This gives an opportunity for'thetoothed end of the feeler to sink into the filling and get a hold thereon before the lateral displacing force of the feeler displacer is exertedupon the feeler.

' Applicant believes himself'to be the first in the art to provide a feeler displacer which,

under the frontward pressure of a surface carried by the lay, acts upon and tends to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat and which acts to effect such movement should the feeler be obstructed'in its movement longitudinally of the shuttlewhen filling is substantially ex- Therefore,

hausted on a detecting heat. while applicant has shown the feeler displacer as engaging the filling or filling carrier on a detecting beat, it is within the scope of the invention to have the feeler,

displacer engaged by some other surface carried by the lay ona detecting beat, the essentials in this respect being that under the frontward pressure against the feeler" displacer, the latter will have a tendency to v move longitudinally of the shuttle and will transmit that tendency to the feeler.

Claims: I

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the filling carrier or bobbin and is held from movement longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion there of, a feeler displacer which is mounted to enter the shuttle in azdirection inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and which tends to slide longitudinally of the filling carrier or bobbin under the frontward pressure on each detecting heat but is held from such movement by the feeler un til the filling is substantially-exhausted and then acts against the feeler to insure its movement longitudinally of the shuttle, and v filling when the feeler is so moved. a r

2. In "a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler that is supported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined t0 the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, a feeler displacer thatis also supported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal'axis thereof, and under the front ward pressure upon it on a detecting beat tends to move: the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, and means for replenishingjth'e filling when the feeleris moved along the filling carrier longitudinally thereof.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler that is supported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of the-shuttle, a feeler displacer that is also supported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof at a greater angle than the feeler, and'under the frontward pressure upon it on a detecting beat tends to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, and means for replenishing the filling when the feeler is moved along the filling carrier longitudinally thereof.

4:. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a feeler displacer that is supported for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and in an inclined position relative to the path of lay movement and bears upon and tends to displace the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat, and means for replenishing the filling when the feeler is so moved. I

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and provided with a toothed or roughened engaging end which holds the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof on a detecting beat, a feeler displacer having an end to engage a surface carried by the lay on each detecting beat and that is constructed and arranged to be movable along said surface longitudinally of the shuttle on each detecting beat under the frontward pressure upon it and exert a force upon the feeler tending to move it in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, and means for replenishing the filling.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and provided with a toothed or roughened engaging end which holds the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof on a detecting beat, a separately supported feeler displacer having a non-holding end to engage a surface within the shuttle and adapted ,to be displaced in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure of said surface on each detecting beat and to force the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when it fails to be held from such movement by the filling, and means for effecting replenishment of filling.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler and a feeler displacer both of which are supported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the lon-.

gitudinal axis of the shuttle, teeth carried I by the feeler which engage a surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat before the feeler dispacer engages the surface, and ineans for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved along the filling carrier on a'detecting beat.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, thev combination of a toothed feeler and an untoothed feeler displacer, both of which are supported to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the path of the lay, the frontward pressure upon the untoothedend of the feeler displacer tending to move the feeler displacer and feeler longitudinally of' the shuttle on a detecting beat, and means for replenishing the filling when the feeler is so moved I y 9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a feeler displacer supported in an inclined position relative to the feeler to abut against the rear portion of the feeler and having a non-toothed filling engaging end which receives the frontward pressure upon it as the lay beats up and tends to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle on each detecting beat and insures such movement of the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the 11. A feeler mechanism for loom-s comprising, in combination, a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of theloom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttleand is held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a feeler displacer mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and that receives the impact of a surface on the lay during each detecting beat and tends tomove in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle but is held from such movement by the feeler until the filling is substantially exhausted and thereupon actsupon the feeler to insure its movement longitudinally along the filling carrier, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally along the filling carrier.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted'for movement toward and from thefront of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such longitudinal movement by engagementwith the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a feeler displacer which is mounted to move frontwardly and longitudinally of the shuttle and to receive a frontward-pressure of a:

surface within the shuttle which tends to move the'feeler displacer longitudinally of the shuttle on each detecting beat and at such times is held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the feeler until the filling is substanially exhausted, and thereupon bears against the rear portion of the feeler and'insures itsfmovement longitudinally of the shuttle, and means for replenishing the filling when the feeler is so moved on a detecting beat.

13. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a feeler displacer that is supported a position inclined to the feeler and to move frontwardly and longi- V tudinally of the shuttle and tends to move longitudinally of the shuttle on each detecting beat as it is pushed frontwardly by a is supported in a position inclined to the feeler and for engagement with the filling, and which on each detecting beat tends to move the feeler in a direction longitudinally along the filling carrier, but is prevented from effecting such movement by engagement of the feeler with the filling until the filling is substantially exhausted, and means for varying the relative inclination of the feeler displacer and feeler.

In testimony whereof -I have signed my name to this specification.

ISAAC SNOW.

nally of the shuttle, a feeler displacer that V 

